Andy Hubbert

Fighter jets from RAF Coningsby were called into action to help a passenger plane in difficulties while flying from France to Iceland.

The emergency unfolded at about 2.40pm on Friday (yesterday) when RAF Typhoon jets were scrambled from RAF Coningsby and RAF Lossiemouth, on Scotland’s north-east coast, to assist an an Airbus 320 operated by Mexican airline Volaris.

An RAF spokesman said the plane was forced into an emergency landing at Glasgow’s Prestwick Airport after the Typhoons were allowed to fly “at supersonic speed” to meet the “unresponsive civilian aircraft”, before escorting it to a safe landing.

Residents in northern Scotland reported hearing “sonic booms” as the fighter jets flew to meet the Airbus 320 which landed at Prestwick shortly before 4pm.